Before national lockdowns and travel restrictions tightened, our Head of Fine Wine Lukasz Kolodziejczyk managed to spend a few weeks in Burgundy last year and is one of a small group of professionals to have firsthand and on field experience of the vintage. Over the coming weeks, we will be releasing producer spotlights and highlights from Lukasz’s trip to the Cote d’Or, complemented by insights from the Burgundy vintage chart. This is the seventh profile of our Burgundy spotlight series featuring Louis Jadot. This is the seventh profile of our Burgundy spotlight series featuring Louis Jadot.
Louis Jadot - Burgundy 2019 En Primeur Producer Profile
Louis Jadot boasts a full portfolio of exquisite wines. The name Louis Jadot is often associated with the Maison, the negociant side of the business, which is known for its excellent selection of sought-after wines. However, Jadot’s Domaine holdings don’t always receive the attention they deserve outside of discerning buyers and critics, meaning they typically offer attractive entry prices and excellent value versus bigger-name neighbours.
Steeped in history, the winery was founded in 1859 by Louis-Henry Jadot. The Domaine arm has been producing wines since the early 2000s and owns over 60 hectares of vineyards, which are mainly grand and premier cru sites with enviable locations in the likes of Musigny, Montrachet , Chambertin, Bonnes-Mares, Vougeot and many more. The Maison side also has access to a broad range of some of the top sites across Burgundy.
Through hard work and investment, including a state-of-the-art cellar in Savigny-les-Beaunes, the team has improved the quality immeasurably. Head winemaker Frederic Barnier honed his skills under the legendary Jacques Lardiere, who has been with Jadot for an incredible fifty years and now oversees their very successful US project – Resonance, a pinot noir from Oregon.
Critic Allen Meadows of Burghound has heaped high praise on Jadot wine in recent years (he has yet to taste the 2019s), scoring several over 95 points. For a very conservative scorer, this speaks volumes. When praise such as this becomes more widely known, the price gap between Domaine Louis Jadot and the more well-known names could close. Now could be the optimal time to buy!
The 2019 vintage
“I'm inclined to single out 2019 as the most successful I've ever tasted at this address.” – William Kelley
Both William Kelly (Wine Advocate) and Neal Martin (Vinous) are raving about the new vintage from Louis Jadot. Martin gave Musigny grand cru one of his highest scores (96-98 points) of the whole Burgundy vintage. Overall, critics’ opinion suggests 2019 could be one of Louis Jadot’s top vintages and could elevate the Domaine’s status, with prices possibly following, among the wider fine wine market. In our view, this new benchmark vintage is definitely one to have in your portfolio.
2019 Musigny Grand Cru - 96-98 points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2019 Musigny Grand Cru is another cuvée in which Jadot has included 30% whole clusters. It has a fresh, vibrant bouquet of mainly black fruit infused with black pepper, truffle and sous-bois and gaining in intensity with every swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and very well balanced, displaying real finesse and touches of sage and cumin toward a complex finish that in my opinion is enhanced by the stems (incidentally, this is not the first time they have been used, often to increase the volume and improve the pigeage). This is a cerebral and captivating Musigny that will drink well for 40–50 years.
2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru – 94-96 (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a floral bouquet of black and blueberry fruit infused with crushed violet and iris petal. This is completely destemmed, so it does not convey the same amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied, with light Earl Grey and ash notes tincturing the black fruit. Fine structure and focus here. Light on its feet toward the long, sustained finish. This is a superb Bonnes-Mares.
2019 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru - 95-97 points (Neal Martin, Vinous)
The 2019 Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru is a clear step up from the Echézeaux, offering a gorgeous marine-influenced bouquet, touches of oyster shell infusing the mixture of red and black fruit, and wonderful mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied, burly and intense with an almost "heaving" structure that grips the palate, all with utmost finesse. Fist, velvet glove, etc.... it’s all here.
2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru – 94-96 (William Kelley, Wine Advocate)
Deep and elegantly muscular, the 2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) is a layered, fleshy but tightly wound wine evocative or orange rind, rose petals, sweet berry fruit and raw cocoa. Full-bodied and concentrated, with a long, mineral finish, it will reward bottle age.
2019 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru – 95-97 points (William Kelley, Wine Advocate)
The 2019 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru (Domaine Louis Jadot) is extremely promising, unfurling in the glass with aromas of rich, plummy fruit mingled with orange rind, exotic spices, raw cocoa and espresso roast. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's muscular and concentrated, with lively acids and a long, penetrating finish.
5-year average prices and returns
